Treatment for stomach cancer: Ian’s story
One patient's story of undergoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy and physiotherapy treatment for stomach cancer.
Ian’s symptoms and journey to diagnosis
Ian has lived in Guildford for over 20 years. Following a career mainly spent as a Chief Financial Officer in the retail sector, he moved to be the CFO of Cancer Research UK in 2013. When he was initially diagnosed with stomach cancer, he was a Finance Director at the Ministry of Defence, focused on the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Ian has three grown-up children and is very family-focussed, as well as a keen tennis-player, runner and gardener. In 2019, he also trained to become a preacher at his local church. He has always had a strong belief and hoped – through his sermons - to engage his fellow parishioners through his lived experience and journey.
In 2022 Ian had begun to find swallowing increasingly difficult. At first, his GP thought it might be an allergy to certain foods, but when he reported increased symptoms including weight loss and reduced appetite, Ian was referred for an endoscopy which detected cancer.
My consultant is friendly, approachable, easy to understand and appears to have superb knowledge.
Ian’s treatment with Dr Sebastian Cummins, Clinical oncologist
After his initial diagnosis at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Ian was transferred to private care for combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which was covered by his private health insurance. Dr Sebastian Cummins has been treating Ian.
Ian said of Dr Cummins, “My consultant is friendly, approachable, easy to understand and appears to have superb knowledge. His timekeeping is variable (!) but that endears me to him. From my initial consultation, he always spoke plainly, simply and decisively. In his own words, I was 'seriously unwell' when I first met him, but he took decisive action.
Ian’s immunotherapy and chemotherapy treatment
Ian waited a few weeks for treatment to begin as the required scans were completed. Ian then had a ‘port-a-cath’ inserted (a device placed under the skin that is used to draw blood and give treatments, including intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, or drugs such as chemotherapy and antibiotics). He then started a 6-month programme of combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
The treatment was given every 15 days from February 2023 to July 2023. He has subsequently had a four-weekly programme of treatment with immunotherapy and re-started a 3-month course of chemotherapy from June 2024.
What happened during Ian’s treatment?
Ian reacted very badly to the initial treatment and spent nearly two weeks in hospital. At that point he could not eat due to his illness, so he was being nourished through a feeding tube. Gradually, the chemotherapy started to reduce the impact of the tumours, and his feeding tube was removed in May 2023 as Ian’s appetite recovered and he started putting on weight again.
Ian had lost a lot of strength, and in August 2023, he started to receive support from the Mount Alvernia physiotherapy team.
Ruth Calder, Clinical specialist physiotherapist, created a tailored strength-building plan for Ian. This included a range of targeted exercises and use of our AlterG negative gravity treadmill. Ian was determined to get back to ParkRun and achieved it by participating in his first 5k race post-treatment in February 2024.
I have been able to see my son graduate, preach and lead in church, receive my CBE that was awarded in the King’s 2023 birthday honours, and return to ParkRun. I have so much to be thankful for and much to look forward to.”
Ian’s life at home
For most of the last year, from about October 2023, Ian says that he’s been able to enjoy a reasonably normal, if slightly restricted, life. Whilst he is currently having to undergo a second round of treatment, he knows it’s necessary to give him the best chance of a healthy life as he lives with cancer.
He speaks highly of the Oncology physiotherapy team at Mount Alvernia, especially Ruth, who recognises the connectivity between exercise, immunotherapy, chemotherapy and their impact on a patient’s all-round health.
As well as helping Ian return to ParkRun, his strength-building physiotherapy has also resulted in him returning to the tennis court.
Ian said, “My treatment at Mount Alvernia has made a significant difference. One of Dr Cummins’s colleagues undertook an endoscopic procedure to remove a stent he had previously inserted and said the results of the treatment were staggering. I have been able to see my son graduate, preach and lead in church, receive my CBE that was awarded in the King’s 2023 birthday honours, and return to ParkRun. I have so much to be thankful for and much to look forward to.”
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